Back Where She Belongs

Yes, having a lovely time since you ask. I just solved the problem of the slow-loading. All Mr Greer's fault, natch.

News 24 interrupted my day-dreaming this afternoon, asking if I would like to go on and comment on Lady T meeting Gordon Brown this afternoon. I explained that unless they had a studio in Moltrasio, it'd be a tad difficult. Anyway, they said they'd like to do it over the phone, so that's what we did. I was rather pleased with the way it all ended. I said: "Isn't it wonderful to see Lady Thatcher back in Number Ten, where she belongs?" The interviewer, Sally Nugent, was so non-plussed that she said "Yes!" I shall never accuse the BBC of bias again. Well, not this week anyway.

There's been an awful lot of guff written this afternoon about Thatcher and Brown and Thatcher and Cameron. Lady T and Gordon Brown have known each other for 25 years. I'm told that they had regular conversations during the 1980s when Lady Thatcher spotted him as a coming talent. Their meeting today ought not to have surprised many, although the public greeting might have had the more traditional Labour (and Conservative) supporters reaching for their smelling salts. I have no idea if the timing was deliberate on Gordon Brown's part, but few things he does happen by chance. It would not at all surprise me if he had seen the reaction to the Quality of Life report this morning and thought to himself: "Now's the time to destabilise the Tory right a bit more - how do I do it? Ah, where's the phone". It's another example of him knowing just which button to press to get under the skin of the Tory Party (see my Telegraph column tomorrow for more on this theme).

But of course, there is regualr contact between the Prime Minister of the day and his predecessors. It is part of our unwritten constitution that they are kept briefed on what is happening. Tony Blair had several meetings with Lady Thatcher during his period in office and they spoke reasonably often, especially in the early years. I hope she gave him a lesson on relations with the EU and convinced him of the need for a referendum. No doubt the handbad was swung a few times. I just hope he didn't invite her to chair some policy commission...

Back to Mr Greer, who I am glad to see has been whipping a few of you into a state of frenzy. You'll be glad to hear he will soon be starting his own blog. Or not, as the case may be...

PS So glad I am not available to comment on the Quality of Life Commission report. Apparently I have to download all 527 pages of it, as it lacks an Executive Summary. Think I'll take a pass on that. I wouldn't want to put pressure on the Italian telecommunications system. The best thing I can fsuggest for the report is to immediately recycle it. And that's all I'm saying...

UPDATE: The 'Brothers' are not happy tonight... From PA

"The visit brought criticism from Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, who said: "This is a huge political mistake which will cost the Labour Party credibility with their core voters and communities up and down the country that still bear the scars of the damage she caused. "Mrs
Thatcher was put out of Downing Street by the Tories themselves. It is unbelievable that she should be invited back by a Labour prime minister. "GMB members will simply not understand this." Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of the Unite union, said: "Political tactics are all very well but millions of people will remember the 1980s, the devastation of the mining communities and three million people on the dole and they will find the sight of any Labour party member, let alone the Prime Minister, welcoming Mrs Thatcher deeply offensive."